Written Answers Friday 21 September 2007

Scottish Executive

Arts

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to introduce the new grant to enable Scottish artists to reclaim the cost of tax paid on work they have sold, as outlined in the 2007 SNP manifesto; how many artists will benefit from this grant, and how much this new grant will cost each year.

Linda Fabiani: The scheme referred to continues to be developed. An announcement will be made in due course about the detailed arrangements involved in its implementation.

Central Heating

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that contractors are paid in a reasonable time by Scottish Gas for work completed under the central heating programme.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  It is the managing agent’s responsibility to ensure its contractors are paid in a reasonable time. However, it is a contractual requirement placed on the managing agent that contractors are paid within 30 days of satisfactory completion of the work and on submission of a valid invoice.

  Regular contract compliance meetings are held between the managing agent and Communities Scotland. At those meetings the issue of payments to installers is discussed and the managing agent has indicated it makes every effort to pay contractors as quickly as possible on receipt of a valid invoice.

Community Wardens

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is provided for community wardens and whether it intends to expand the use of such wardens.

Fergus Ewing: Scottish Executive funding to tackle antisocial behaviour is supporting community wardens in every local authority area in Scotland. It is for each local authority to decide how best to allocate funding across all their antisocial behaviour services, including community wardens, based on local needs and priorities.

  Funding granted to each local authority for the period 2004-08 to tackle antisocial behaviour is detailed in the following table:

  

Local Authority
2004-05 (£)
2005-06 (£)
2006-07 (£)
2007-08 (£)
Total (£)


Glasgow City
2,487,000
2,760,950
3,238,000
3,401,000
11,869,950


Edinburgh, City of
1,685,000
1,869,950
2,210,000
2,374,000
8,138,950


North Lanarkshire
1,685,000
1,869,950
2,210,000
2,374,000
8,138,950


Dundee City
1,685,000
1,869,950
2,210,000
2,374,000
8,138,950


Renfrewshire
1,364,000
1,513,550
1,765,000
1,900,000
6,542,550


Aberdeen City
1,364,000
1,513,550
1,765,000
1,900,000
6,542,550


West Dunbartonshire
1,364,000
1,513,550
1,765,000
1,900,000
6,542,550


Inverclyde
1,364,000
1,513,550
1,765,000
1,900,000
6,542,550


Fife
843,000
935,550
1,150,000
1,300,000
4,228,550


South Lanarkshire
843,000
935,550
1,150,000
1,300,000
4,228,550


North Ayrshire
843,000
935,550
1,150,000
1,300,000
4,228,550


East Ayrshire
843,000
935,550
1,068,000
1,130,000
3,976,550


West Lothian
642,000
712,800
835,500
880,000
3,070,300


Falkirk
642,000
712,800
835,500
880,000
3,070,300


Dumfries and Galloway
642,000
712,800
835,500
880,000
3,070,300


South Ayrshire
642,000
712,800
835,500
880,000
3,070,300


Highland
369,000
409,400
480,000
519,000
1,777,400


Perth and Kinross
369,000
409,400
480,000
519,000
1,777,400


Clackmannanshire
369,000
409,400
480,000
519,000
1,777,400


Stirling
369,000
409,400
480,000
519,000
1,777,400


Angus
369,000
409,400
480,000
519,000
1,777,400


Midlothian
369,000
409,400
480,000
519,000
1,777,400


East Renfrewshire 
369,000
409,400
480,000
519,000
1,777,400


East Dunbartonshire
369,000
409,400
480,000
519,000
1,777,400


Aberdeenshire
248,000
275,750
320,000
335,000
1,178,750


Scottish Borders
248,000
275,750
320,000
335,000
1,178,750


East Lothian
248,000
275,750
320,000
335,000
1,178,750


Moray
248,000
275,750
320,000
335,000
1,178,750


Argyll and Bute
184,000
204,700
247,000
260,000
895,700


Eilean Siar
184,000
204,700
225,000
245,000
858,700


Shetland Islands
184,000
204,700
225,000
245,000
858,700


Orkney Islands
184,000
204,700
225,000
245,000
858,700


Total
23,618,000
26,215,400
30,830,000
33,160,000
113,823,400



  Future funding for antisocial behaviour services will be considered as part of the forthcoming spending review.

Constitution

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy to negotiate with the UK Government for the devolution to the Parliament of responsibility for oil and gas fields in the waters around Scotland includes a proposal to devolve a share of the tax revenue from each oil or gas field to the nearest coastal local authority and, if so, what share these authorities would receive.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is committed to discussions with the UK Government on options for the transfer of responsibility for oil and gas resources to the Scottish Parliament.

  We will focus on this issue of principle. Issues of subsequent allocation of revenue would be for the Scottish Government, not for discussion with the UK Government.

Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to ensure that the proposals it will bring forward in the spending review meet the annual 3.1% annual greenhouse gas emissions cuts required to achieve its target of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and how this information will be communicated to MSPs.

Stewart Stevenson: We will use the spending review and other processes to set plans to achieve the government’s strategic objectives. The process includes reviewing proposals to ensure that they deliver, and will continue to deliver, the Scottish Government’s long-term objectives.

  Pending the introduction of any statutory requirement in a future Scottish Climate Change Bill, we are considering how to report our progress on climate change to Parliament.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect on greenhouse gas emissions will be of each decision that it has announced since May 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: In line with our commitment to consult on a Scottish Climate Change Bill, including a long-term target of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050, we are taking steps to refine our approach to assessing the effect on emissions of new policy measures. In the meantime, the annual publication of Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland , available at www.naei.org.uk , provides a measure of the trend in overall Scottish emissions.

Equal Opportunities

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has the power to legislate on equal access, in terms of gender, to sport in private clubs.

Stewart Maxwell: Legislation on equal opportunities is largely reserved to Westminster. The Gender Directive (2004/113/EC) relates to the principle of equal treatment between men and women in access to and supply of goods and services. The UK Government has recently consulted on proposals to implement the Gender Directive as part of the consultation on the future of discrimination law – A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill in Great Britain .

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pages the recent CalMac bid to operate services between the Scottish mainland and the islands off the west coast contained; how much it cost the company to prepare; whether the cost has been properly audited, and what timescale was involved in the bid’s preparation.

Stewart Stevenson: CalMac submitted its Clyde and Hebrides ferry services bid electronically in line with Scottish Executive procurement arrangements. The bid represented more than 200 pages of text plus extensive supporting financial, technical and background information.

  CalMac estimates that between 14 December 2006 when the Scottish Executive’s invitation to tender was received and 11 May 2007 when the bid was submitted, the costs of external consultants to support the company’s bid preparations was £316,318. Although substantial company staff time was also required to prepare the bid, no payments were made to any staff in addition to their normal salaries.

  The company’s bid costs will be audited in due course as part of the normal annual audit of its financial records.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2276 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, on what grounds disclosure of information on costs and revenues on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route would substantially prejudice Caledonian MacBrayne’s commercial interest when private operators have to provide similar information in their annual returns to Companies House.

Stewart Stevenson: Cowal Ferries Ltd commended trading on 1 April this year as part of the restructuring of the former Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, and has since that date operated the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service. I can confirm that the company will publish its own annual accounts, separate from other subsidiaries of David MacBrayne Ltd, from 2007-08 in full compliance with company law requirements. I consider that this represents a reasonable degree of transparency in terms of the financial performance of the company and is in line with the obligations placed on private operators.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2276 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, whether, and if so how, withholding information on costs and revenues on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route can be deemed consistent with meeting requirements on Caledonian MacBrayne to seek commercial opportunities outwith the approved services, as set out in section 3 of the guidelines on business activities outside the scope of the undertaking issued by the Scottish Office in March 1995.

Stewart Stevenson: I do not accept that there is any inconsistency between these issues.

Higher Education

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will contribute to the funding of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden.

Fiona Hyslop: In 2007-08 the University of Dundee will receive grant in aid of £68,315,828 from the Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council.

  The Scottish Government has no plans to provide additional funding to the University of Dundee Botanic Garden.

  It is a matter for the university’s management board to make decisions on financial priorities.

Homelessness

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its latest estimate is of the number of rough sleepers, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: The latest figures available on Rough Sleeping can be found in the Scottish Government publication Operation of the Homeless Persons Legislation in Scotland: Quarters Ending 30 June and 30 September 2006  (temporary accommodation to 31 December 2006) available online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/12095510/0 .

  Table A1 gives the average number of applications per month where at least one member of the household slept rough the night before applying for assistance (based on application made during 2005-6). Data for 2006-07 will be published in the 2006-07 homelessness statistics bulletin scheduled for publication on 30 October 2007.

Housing

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has invested in affordable housing in each year since 1999.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The information requested is given in the following table in respect of the housing investment programme managed by Communities Scotland and its predecessor.

  

Year
Affordable HousingInvestment Programme (£ Million)


1999-2000
209.522


2000-01
215.824


2001-02
225.481


2002-03
219.616


2003-04
257.001


2004-05
295.638


2005-06
438.637


2006-07
544.006

Housing

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money, including housing association grant, was paid to registered social landlords under the Scottish Homes approved development programme in each year from 1989-90 to 1995-96.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Grants paid to registered social landlords, through Scottish Homes approved development programme from 1989-90 to 1995-96 were as follows:

  

Financial Year
Amount
(£ Million)


1989-90
202.600


1990-91 
198.642


1991-92 
224.451


1992-93 
266.797


1993-94 
274.127


1994-95 
277.93


1995-96 
287.119



  We do not hold records of any other public money registered social landlords might have received during this period.

Justice

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges for driving without insurance that resulted in criminal proceedings were reported to procurators fiscal at (a) Lanark and (b) Hamilton in each of the last three years.

Frank Mulholland QC: The numbers of charges reported to procurators fiscal which resulted in court proceedings for driving without insurance in each jurisdiction are shown in the following table.

  Charges: Offences under Section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988

  

Procurator Fiscal Office
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Hamilton
1,355
1,497
1,325


Lanark
197
190
220



  Notes:

  1. The information in the table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The table reflects the position at 14 September 2007.

Justice

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges for driving while disqualified that resulted in criminal proceedings were reported to procurators fiscal at (a) Lanark and (b) Hamilton in each of the last three years.

Frank Mulholland QC: The numbers of charges reported to procurators fiscal which resulted in court proceedings for driving while disqualified in each jurisdiction are shown in the following table.

  Charges: Offences under Section 103 of the Road Traffic Act 1988

  

Procurator Fiscal Office
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Hamilton
238
203
199


Lanark
25
29
36



  Notes:

  1. The information in the table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The table reflects the position at 14 September 2007.

Ministerial Meetings

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations the Minister for Children and Early Years has met since taking office.

Adam Ingram: I have had formal meetings with the following organisations:

  Scottish Pre-School Play Association [SPPA]

  Scottish Network for Parental Involvement in Children’s Learning [SNPICL]

  Glasgow City Council

  Representatives from Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland [ACPOS]

  COSLA

  Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration [SCRA]

  Dundee City Council

  National Children’s Home Scotland [NCH]

  Renfrewshire Council

  Care Commission Scotland

  Scottish Council Voluntary Organisations [SCVO]

  North Lanarkshire Council

  Young Scot

  City of Edinburgh Council

  East Lothian Council

  Children in Scotland

  Barnardos Scotland

  East Ayrshire Council

  Grandparents Apart Self-help Group

  Children’s Panel Advisory Group

  Children’s Commissioner Scotland [SCCYP]

  Children 1st

  Association Directors of Social Work [ADSW]

  Scottish Parent Teacher Council.

Ministerial Meetings

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held between Scottish ministers and City of Edinburgh councillors, and on what dates and topics, since 16 May 2007.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held between its officials and City of Edinburgh council officials, and on what dates and topics, since 16 May 2007.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held between Scottish ministers and City of Edinburgh council officials, and on what dates and topics, since 16 May 2007.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held between its officials and City of Edinburgh councillors, and on what dates and topics, since 16 May 2007.

John Swinney: Scottish ministers and officials regularly meet representatives from councils, including the City of Edinburgh Council. Since 16 May 2007, there have been a number of such meetings with representatives from the City of Edinburgh Council covering a range of issues.

Piers and Harbours

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why charges levied for the use of Gourock pier are significantly higher than those levied for the use of Dunoon pier and whether this raises any competition issues under European maritime cabotage, state aid and competition rules.

Stewart Stevenson: The different approaches to charging adopted at Gourock and Dunoon Piers make meaningful comparisons difficult. However, the Scottish Government is content that the approach taken at Gourock Pier does not raise any competition issues.

Police

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers there were in (a) Tayside, (b) Grampian and (c) Scotland in each of the last four years, also showing the percentage of the annual Scottish figures that Tayside and Grampian represented.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested for 2003-04 to 2006-07 is given in the Quarterly Strength Return , published by the Scottish Government annually, and updated on a quarterly basis, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 39652 (2003-04), 39653 (2004-05), 39654 (2005-06) and 40257 (2006-07) respectively).

Possession of Pesticides (Scotland) Order 2005

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of those convicted in the last 10 years of poisoning or possession offences involving the chemicals now listed in the Possession of Pesticides (Scotland) Order 2005 had their licences to use firearms or shotguns permanently revoked.

Kenny MacAskill: Information at the level of detail requested is not available from the data held centrally.

Prison Service

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the cost difference between a private sector company running the new Low Moss prison and providing its staff from the public sector.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  A direct cost comparison is not possible. The Scottish Prison Service will work with its trade union partners to deliver a publicly operated prison at Bishopbriggs which gives best possible value for money.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be for the Airdrie to Bathgate rail project if the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link does not go ahead.

Stewart Stevenson: The Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Link is a stand alone project and is not dependant on the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project for its delivery. There are no implications to project deliverability, timescales or cost if the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link does not go ahead.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed 15-minute frequency on the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line would be affected if the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link does not go ahead.

Stewart Stevenson: No.

Regeneration

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action it will take to encourage the economic regeneration of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to taking targeted action to encourage the regeneration of our most disadvantaged areas and to tackle poverty and deprivation. We will make funding announcements shortly after the conclusion of the Spending Review.

Renewable Energy

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it will provide to help individual households to harness and utilise solar energy.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government supports the use of solar energy devices by householders, as well as other small-scale renewable technologies, through the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative.

  The government is committed to increasing the use of microgeneration technologies as part of wider promotion of clean energy and we will set out our plans for future funding for microgeneration following the Spending Review.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what figures were used in calculating the present value of (a) benefits and (b) costs to determine the benefit to cost ratio for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, giving the respective values concerned, and whether these figures represent current assessments of benefits and costs.

Stewart Stevenson: The most recent economic assessment for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route indicates a present value of benefits at £1,950.7 million with a present value of costs at £407.6 million. These will be updated following the next reassessment of the scheme estimate.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what figures were used in calculating the present value of (a) benefits and (b) costs to determine the benefit to cost ratio for the M74 extension, giving the respective values concerned, and whether these figures represent current assessments of benefits and costs.

Stewart Stevenson: The most recent economic assessment for the M74 Completion indicates a present value of benefits at £2,298.8 million with a present value of costs at £300.3 million. These will be updated following the next reassessment of the scheme estimate.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what figures were used in calculating the present value of (a) benefits and (b) costs to determine the benefit to cost ratio for the completion of the M8 motorway between Baillieston and Newhouse, giving the respective values concerned, and whether these figures represent current assessments of benefits and costs.

Stewart Stevenson: The most recent economic assessment for the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse indicates a present value of benefits at £11,630.3 million with a present value of costs of £163.9 million. These will be updated following the next reassessment of the scheme estimate.

Scottish Government Expenditure

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by it on (a) publicity, (b) special advisers, (c) promotion of cabinet secretaries and ministers and (d) commissioning external consultants’ advice since 17 May 2007, broken down by department and Executive agency.

John Swinney: The term "publicity" has been interpreted here to mean the Scottish Government’s central marketing communications work. The Scottish Government has spent £659,319 on advertising campaigns between 17 May 2007 and 17 September 2007 (in comparison to a total of £2,260,000 spent in the same period in 2006). A breakdown of this expenditure is presented in the following table.

  

 
Spend (Gross)


Health
 


Alcohol
£222


Flu
£26,607


NHS Careers
£3,709


Organ Donation
£56,243


Race
£886


Total
£87,667


Education
 


Children’s Hearings
£154,669


Total
£154,669


Economy
 


Road Safety
£351,577


Vote Scotland
£16,686


Volunteering
£222


Total
£368,485


Environment
 


Sustainable Development
£207


Total
£207


Justice
 


Drugs
£245


Fire
£308


Total
£553


Miscellaneous across campaigns
£47,738


Overall Total
£659,319



  An exercise to collate equivalent information on publicity expenditure in relation to Agencies could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.

  In respect of point (b), expenditure on special adviser salaries between 17 May and 31 August 2007 totals £155,630.58. In respect of point (c), the Scottish Government does not have specific budgets for promoting individual Cabinet Secretaries or ministers. In respect of point (d), information on costs incurred commissioning external consultants’ advice is not held centrally.

Scottish Government Expenditure

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure has been incurred under its contract for design, print and publication services, due to expire on 3 October 2007, broken down by year, and what additional expenditure is projected to be incurred for the remainder of the contract term.

John Swinney: The costs incurred by the Scottish Government during the period of the contract are as follows:

  

Year
Expenditure


1 October 2004 – 31 September 2005
£11,211,331


1 October 2005 – 31 September 2006
£12,595,283


1 October 2006 – 31 August 2007*
£11,380,143



  Note: *Figures are only available to 31 August 2007.

  The current contract expires on 3 October 2007. The contract may be extended for a further year until 3 October 2008 and in which case the expenditure is estimated to be in region £12,000,000.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31165 by George Lyon on 31 January 2007, whether it will pay out the remaining £167,000 that it agreed to make available in ex gratia payments from the Scottish Transport Group pension funds surplus.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is committed to distributing the remaining funds in relation to the Scottish Transport Group pension funds surplus. Of the original £126 million surplus, there is approximately £135,000 remaining. This money has been reserved for distribution to identified eligible former pension scheme members and claims continue to be received.

Sectarianism

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent between May and July 2007 on publicising its anti-sectarian strategy.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling all forms of sectarianism and religious intolerance. £4,000 was spent on promoting the anti-sectarian agenda during May to July 2007. The focal point of activity during this period was the First Minister’s reception on 19 June 2007 which recognised the achievements of those individuals and organisations that have made a positive contribution to tackling sectarianism.

Sectarianism

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is proposed to be spent between August and December 2007 on publicising its anti-sectarian strategy.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will spend £106,000 to publicise and promote initiatives to tackle sectarianism during August to December 2007. Activities will include a football weekend of action on 24 to 25 November 2007; an artwork event on 25 September, and a seminar to publicise the £100,000 which we have made available to support anti-sectarianism projects in schools.

Sectarianism

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent between August and December 2006 on publicising the previous administration’s anti-sectarian strategy.

Fergus Ewing: Between August and December 2006, the Scottish Government spent £100,000 on publicising and promoting its work to tackle sectarianism. Activity during this period centred around reconvening the Summit on Sectarianism and the publication of a series of documents, including ones relating to twinning schools, guidance on the new procedures for marches and parades, and tackling football related sectarianism.

Tourism

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the tourism industry in Perthshire and Kinross.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise and Perth and Kinross Council are committed to working with tourism businesses in the area to grow tourism there, as part of the shared ambition to increase Scotland’s tourism revenue by 50% over the decade to 2015. VisitScotland and the council are both represented on the Perthshire Area Tourism Partnership and work closely together to deliver the Partnership’s Tourism Strategy and Action Plan for the Perthshire area. This close working relationship between VisitScotland and Perth and Kinross Council is set out in their Partnership Agreement, which, along with associated funding, commits VisitScotland to delivering a portfolio of marketing activity and services to visitors. In addition, Scottish Enterprise has identified Perthshire as one of the key areas in Scotland for tourism growth, and it too works closely with tourism businesses in the area.

Tourism

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the review by VisitScotland which showed that the number of tourists visiting Perthshire and Kinross fell by 8% in 2006-07 and by 15% over the last two years.

Jim Mather: I understand that the figures quoted are from the VisitScotland Partnership Agreement  report, which was released in August this year, and are for the numbers of visitors using tourist information centres (TICs) in the Perth and Kinross area. I am pleased to report that the number of visitors to the area has actually increased, with a 5% rise in visitor numbers from 2005 to 2006, and a 2% increase in revenue in the same period.

  It appears that with new advances in technology, visitor requirements for information are changing, and many visitors now seek information and make bookings online, rather than at TICs. The decrease in numbers of visitors to TICs is therefore in line with the trend elsewhere. VisitScotland are responding to this trend by making changes in the ways they provide information and booking services to visitors during their stay in Scotland.

Tourism

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy is in place to encourage visitors to Perthshire and Kinross.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland and Perth and Kinross Council work closely together to encourage visitors to experience this beautiful area for themselves, as part of the shared ambition to increase Scotland’s tourism revenue by 50% over the decade to 2015. VisitScotland is committed to the promotion of Perthshire and Kinross as a quality must-see, must-return visitor destination, and works in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council on a variety of local marketing initiatives designed to boost tourism in the area. As part of this, VisitScotland runs a wide variety of marketing and promotional activity in the area, for example through the Perthshire Holiday and Explore guide and the dedicated website www.perthshire.co.uk .

Voluntary Sector

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to encourage and expand the voluntary sector.

Jim Mather: We are determined to focus government and public services on creating a more successful country with opportunities for all to flourish through increasing sustainable growth. We want the third sector at the heart of this agenda for change, as service delivery partners, builders of stronger communities and local economies, advocates and contributors to policy-making.

  The third sector has a crucial role to play across each of the strategic objectives and we have recognised that by bringing our relationship with the third sector to the core of government, close to public service reform, local government, best value and performance management.

  We will engage closely with the third sector to ensure its particular contribution is available to help drive the transformation of our country.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) forum on wildlife crime has met; what issues it has discussed, and what steps COPFS has taken to improve the prosecution of wildlife crime as a result of these discussions.

Frank Mulholland QC: The Wildlife and Habitats Crime Prosecution Forum has met three times since January 2006 and is due to meet again in October 2007. Forum members have already discussed a broad range of issues, including inter-agency communication, information sharing and legislative changes. Forum meetings have also provided an opportunity for presentations, both from members of the group and from invited speakers. This aspect of the forum has contributed to broadening the knowledge and understanding of the specialist prosecutors with regard to particular wildlife issues as well as improving liaison arrangement with the relevant reporting agencies.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have (a) been reported to the Procurator Fiscal, (b) been prosecuted and (c) secured a conviction for offences under sections 5(1)(f), 11(1)(d) or 11(2)(f) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) relating to the causing or permitting of an offence in each of the last 10 years.

Frank Mulholland QC: No such cases have been reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many alleged cases of (a) poisoning of wild birds, (b) illegal poisoning of wild animals, (c) poisoning of dogs and cats, (d) poisoned baits where no victim was recovered, (e) trapping of wild birds, (f) trapping of protected animals, (g) illegal killing of wild birds other than by poisoning, (h) illegal killing of protected animals other than by poisoning, (i) destruction of wild birds’ nests and (j) egg collecting have been reported to the relevant authorities and how many have resulted in a (i) report to the Procurator Fiscal, (ii) prosecution and (iii) conviction in each of the last 10 years.

Frank Mulholland QC: The information held centrally by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) does not distinguish wildlife crimes at the requested level of detail. Information is available to show the number of charges reported to Procurators Fiscal in terms of the most relevant wildlife offences.

  This information is extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management database and is contained in the following tables 1 to 3, showing the numbers of relevant charges (i) received in each of the last five financial years, and how many of these were subsequently (ii) prosecuted and (iii) convicted.

  There is no centrally held information which would distinguish wildlife crime reported to the investigating authorities at the level of detail requested.

  Table 1: Charges Reported

  

Act and Section
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948, S:50 (Prohibition of night shooting and using spring traps)
1
-
-
-
-


Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994, R:39 (European protected species of animals)
1
7
2
-
3


Conservation of Seals Act 1970, S:2 (Close season for seals)
-
-
-
1
-


Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, s:17 (Unlawful killing, taking and injuring of deer)
2
1
4
4
8


Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, S:18 (Taking or killing at night)
-
1
2
1
5


Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, S:2 (Firearms and Ammunition)
-
-
-
-
4


Game (Scotland) Act 1772, S:1 (Taking etc Muir Fowl etc between 10 December and 12 August)
-
-
1
1
1


Game Licences Act 1860, S:4 (Licence to be taken out for taking or killing of game in Great Britain)
1
3
-
-
1


Protection of Badgers Act 1992, S:1 (Taking, injuring or killings badgers)
-
1
5
1
7


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:1 (Protection of wild birds, their nests and eggs)
81
34
37
89
49


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:11 (Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild animals)
-
10
2
2
14


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:5 (Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild birds)
6
12
10
8
18


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:6 (Sale etc of live or dead wild birds, eggs etc)
-
-
-
1
-


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:8 (Protection of captive birds)
2
-
1
3
-


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:9 (Protection of certain wild animals)
-
9
2
-
2



  Table 2: Charges Prosecuted

  

Act and Section
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994, R:39 (European protected species of animals) 
-
1
1
-
2


Conservation of Seals Act 1970, S:2 (Close season for seals) 
-
-
-
1
-


Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, s:17 (Unlawful killing, taking and injuring of deer) 
-
-
-
1
5


Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, S:18 (Taking or killing at night) 
-
-
-
-
5


Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, S:2 (Firearms and Ammunition) 
-
-
-
-
2


Game Licences Act 1860, S:4 (Licence to be taken out for taking or killing of game in Great Britain) 
-
1
-
-
-


Protection of Badgers Act 1992, S:1 (Taking, injuring or killings badgers) 
-
-
5
1
7


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:1 (Protection of wild birds, their nests and eggs) 
19
14
30
41
39


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:11 (Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild animals) 
-
3
2
-
5


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:5 (Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild birds) 
5
3
8
4
7


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:8 (Protection of captive birds) 
2
-
1
1
-


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:9 (Protection of certain wild animals) 
-
4
2
-
-



  Table 3: Charges Convicted

  

Act and Section
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994, R:39 (European protected species of animals) 
-
-
-
-
1


Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, s:17 (Unlawful killing, taking and injuring of deer) 
-
-
-
-
1


Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, S:2 (Firearms and Ammunition) 
-
-
-
-
1


Game Licences Act 1860, S:4 (Licence to be taken out for taking or killing of game in Great Britain) 
-
1
-
-
-


Protection of Badgers Act 1992, S:1 (Taking, injuring or killings badgers) 
-
-
-
1
-


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:1 (Protection of wild birds, their nests and eggs) 
14
5
15
14
12


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:11 (Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild animals) 
-
2
-
-
-


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:5 (Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild birds) 
1
1
3
1
5


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:8 (Protection of captive birds) 
1
-
-
-
-


Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S:9 (Protection of certain wild animals) 
-
-
2
-
-



  Notes:

  1. The information in these tables has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service completed an upgrade of its electronic case management system in April 2002. Only case records created after that date contain complete data which is capable of electronic analysis.

  4. The table reflects the position at 14 September 2007. At that date, some charges were still the subject of court proceedings and had no verdict recorded.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been provided to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to support the network of environmental specialists; whether these environmental fiscals routinely present the prosecution in cases of wildlife crime, and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Frank Mulholland QC: All procurators fiscal are provided with the necessary training, development opportunities and guidance material to enable them to carry out their wide range of duties, including appropriate guidance on dealing with environmental and wildlife crime. In addition, environmental and wildlife prosecutors participate in specialist programmes of training, arranged jointly with SEPA lawyers or with police wildlife crime officers. It has not proved possible to disaggregate training expenditure to identify the amount allocated specifically to training on environmental or wildlife law.

  Environmental and wildlife specialists are expected, whenever possible, to receive, prepare and prosecute cases in court. In circumstances when it is not possible for the specialist to deal personally with a case, he or she would be available as a source of advice and guidance for colleagues preparing and prosecuting the case.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many serving police officers act as (a) full-time and (b) part-time wildlife crime officers and whether it considers this number sufficient to address the extent of wildlife crime.

Kenny MacAskill: Across the Scottish Police Forces, there are currently four full-time wildlife crime officers and approximately 90 police officers who have received specialised training, in investigating wildlife crime.

  The deployment of personnel to undertake wildlife crime duties is an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all evidence available to the police is used as fully as possible in prosecuting alleged cases of wildlife crime.

Frank Mulholland QC: In considering any allegation of criminal conduct reported by the police or other reporting agency, the Procurator Fiscal must first be satisfied that the circumstances disclose a crime known to the law of Scotland and that there is sufficient admissible, credible and reliable evidence to support the charge. In considering the available evidence, the prosecutor must assess whether, having regard to the laws of evidence, a court will allow that evidence to be admitted in the case. A court may refuse to take account of evidence that has been obtained improperly, irregularly or unlawfully.

  If the evidence appears to be insufficient the Procurator Fiscal can instruct the police or another reporting agency to carry out further enquiries or may conduct his or her own investigation. If the Procurator Fiscal is satisfied after full enquiry that the admissible evidence is insufficient in law he or she will take no proceedings.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals were convicted of offences of wildlife crime in each of the last 10 years and, of these, what proportion were employed in professions associated with the game shooting industry.

Kenny MacAskill: The available figures are given in the following table. Details of the professions of persons proceeded against in courts are not held centrally.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Wildlife Related Offences1, 1996-97 to 2005-06

  

Financial Year
Cruelty to Animals Excluding Dogs, including Killing and Maiming Cattle
Offences Involving Animals Excluding Dogs and Birds
Offences Involving Birds
Hunting with Dogs
Cruelty to Wild Animals
Total


1996-97
63
16
7
-
-
86


1997-98
70
22
10
-
-
102


1998-99
53
24
6
-
-
83


1999-2000
47
30
7
-
-
84


2000-01
42
27
3
-
-
72


2001-02
38
14
5
-
-
57


2002-03
32
17
2
-
-
51


2003-042
42
19
10
2
1
75


2004-05
52
18
9
4
4
87


2005-06
58
26
12
28
2
126



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Total includes one offence under "Other wildlife offences".

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that its network of environmental specialists within the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is well co-ordinated, well resourced, and well trained; what evidence it has obtained that these steps have resulted in more effective prosecution of wildlife crime, and whether it will publish the results of such analysis.

Frank Mulholland QC: The network of environmental and wildlife prosecutors consists of at least one specialist in each of the local areas in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. They regularly attend targeted training events, which enhance expertise and provide the opportunity for mutual support from the other specialist prosecutors. The specialists also act as a focal point for regular formal and informal contact with relevant specialist reporting agencies at a local level.

  Building closer working relationships in this way and developing a better understanding of the context and impact of wildlife crime in our specialist prosecutors increases our ability to prosecute these offences effectively.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that those who benefit financially from the impacts of wildlife crime are (a) investigated and (b) prosecuted and, where the offence is carried out on their behalf by someone else, what steps it is taking to ensure that the beneficiary is held liable.

Frank Mulholland QC: Procurators fiscal work closely with investigating authorities to identify incriminating evidence against anyone involved, either directly or indirectly, in the commission of wildlife crime. However, the prosecutor must always be satisfied that there is sufficient admissible, credible and reliable evidence before taking action against an offender.

  The information sharing which takes place at Wildlife and Habitats Crime Prosecution Forum meetings helps in identifying and understanding emerging patterns of criminal activity in Scotland. Since its launch in October 2006, the National Wildlife Crime Unit is also a source of analytical and investigative support for police and customs officers across the UK. Prosecution action cannot be taken, however, where there is insufficient evidence of criminal activity.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether action to address the illegal and dangerous practice of wildlife poisoning is listed as a national police priority and whether a national police operation exists to detect and investigate all such offences.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether action to address the illegal killing of golden eagles is listed as a national priority for police wildlife enforcers and whether a national police operation exists to detect and investigate such offences.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether action to address the illegal killing of red kites is listed as a national priority for police wildlife enforcers and whether a national police operation exists to tackle this.

Kenny MacAskill: Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland’s (ACPOS) Scottish Strategic Assessment identifies wildlife crime as a national policing priority. The importance of this has recently been reinforced through the ACPOS approved National Harm Reduction Strategy for Wildlife Crime. All eight Scottish forces are prioritising investigations into the abuse of pesticides and are working closely with the police-led National Wildlife Crime Unit, which has a UK-wide remit. police forces across the UK have agreed to prioritise both preventive and enforcement work in relation to certain rare UK species that are at risk because of, or partly due to, crime being committed against them.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of alleged killing, nest destruction and disturbance of hen harriers have been recorded and how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for such offences there have been in each of the last 10 years and whether the national police operation, Artemis, has achieved a reduction in the incidence of hen harrier persecution since its launch in March 2004.

Kenny MacAskill: Prosecutions and convictions for offences against hen harriers cannot be identified separately from other wild birds from the data held centrally.

Correction

The reply to question S3W-4021 which was originally answered on 18 September 2007, has been corrected: see page 1057 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-07/wa0920.htm.